Haggar Student Center Renovations at the University of Dallas

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The Haggar Student Center at the University of Dallas has been home to several university landmarks for decades, including the upper-level Capp Bar, a popular caffeine hub for students and faculty, and the lower-level Rathskeller, an evening dining spot rebranded under our scope of work as the Dumb Ox. Close collaboration with our client, Aramark, helped guide a clear vision for UD and define a visual narrative across the renovations.

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Our design challenge was twofold: Imbue the Irving, TX, campus with aesthetic references to the university’s Rome campus, and unify the upper and lower levels of the Student Center into a cohesive “third space” that offers dining options and study spaces.

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Upstairs, adjacent to the Capp Bar, we transformed an underutilized bookstore into a multi-use dining area that provides a flexible gathering space for various campus activities.

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Careful design details unite the upper and lower levels, emphasizing cohesion and continuity. A UD insignia adorns the floor outside the university president’s private dining area, crafted with the same tile used for the student dining serve line. Complementary color motifs are then referenced in the lower level’s tile accents.

A new dining deck extends to an outdoor patio, serving as a programmatic driver that activates the expanded upper level and draws people outdoors and downstairs to the Dumb Ox, a branded pub and student gathering space designed collaboratively by Multistudio’s Brand Experience and architectural teams.

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The multifunctional indoor/outdoor dining deck allows students to use the space as needed, offering a place to catch a quick coffee break, enjoy alfresco dining, or study with peers.

On the lower level, the former Rathskeller offered a space imbued with the history of its predecessors, equally ready to welcome new generations of students. A straightforward refresh that fully leaned into a traditional Irish pub aesthetic transformed the space from a casual room into a true destination venue.

The name “Dumb Ox” is a moniker for Saint Thomas Aquinas, given by his peers for his stature, shyness, and slow speech. The nickname cleverly connects back to the university’s heritage while supporting the client’s desire for a character-rich identity.

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The dining area, pub, and expanded gathering spaces have become a central community hub for students at the University of Dallas, establishing a lively “living room” on campus that can deftly adapt to student and university needs.